Street signal lamp



Det. 27, 1925 1,558,906

u K F. MlLLlKEN STREET SGNAL LAMP Filed Feb. 21. 1922 4 ShB-S-Sheet' 1.

x 1L' 4 ATTORNEYS/9 Oct. 27, 1925. 1,558,906

F. MILLIKEN 'STREET SIGNAL LAMP Filed Feb. 21, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fim?. 2.

A l x c a l I I l l 'y l l V n 27 i925 F. MILLIKEN STREET SIGNAL LA IP 4 Sheets-Sheet` 3 med Feb. 21, i922 lum/ran Amm/1ers oct. v27, 1925.

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snomwAY 9 55TH STREET F. MILLIKEN STREET SIGNAL LAMP Filed Feb. 21, 1,922

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEYS highway carrying minated, in order that the Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT o F I C E Y FOSTER MILLIKEN, F LAWRENCE, NEW YORK.

STREET SIGNAL LAMP.

Application flied February' 21, 19.22. Serial No. 538,304.

To all 'whom t may concern.' Be it known that I, Fosrmi MiLLiKijiN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lawrence, Ain the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Street Signal Lamp, of which the followingl is a full, clear, and exact descri tion,

h y invention relates to street signal lights intended for4 the control and direction of traffic, and by my invention I aim, among other things, to produce a lamp of this type 'having a high degree of visibility for the amount of light used, and one w iose position can readily bev ]udged by .unconscious ocular triangulation when the light standsl alone and conditions are such that no sur rounding objects can Ibe seen (as tor example in afog or a rain). This ishighly desirable, for many accidents have arisen from motorists striking light posts placed iu the under Such circumstances drivers cannot exact position of the light and not in requently strike the post while believing the light still to be a long distance away. According to my present invention, this object is accomplished by supplying a lamp, which at night shows one or more bands oisteady light, adjacent ,to which is embodiment of my invention there are at least two bnds or zones of steady light between which is located the flashing light, which may advantageously sendV out .its beams through lenses. have also foundit desirable so to arrange the structure that the base of the lam or theground at the foot of the lamp is illumotorist may be able readily Ito measure the distance from a fixed zone of light to the ground.

In the accompanying drawings which A. show illustrative examples of lamps embodying my invention` Iigure l -is a longitudinal vertical section` through of the invention, the standard being broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through Figiure. lapproximately on line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a sectional View through Figure l approximately on line 3`3.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a slightly modified form of casing and arrangement of lamps'. I

-onlya single "light, for

e preferred a centrally positioned lamp.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an arrange ment of wiring embodying certain featuresof the invention.

Figure 9 is a' sectional Figure 5 but show ing only each face of the casing.

Figure l() isa view similar to Figure 9' but showing a slight modified form wherein only a single lamp dividual lamp for each lens.

Figure ll is a side View on a reduced scale, `of the lamp structure illustrated in Figures l to 3 inclusive.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by. numeral, l indicates a casing of any desired kind, as for instance, a sheet metal casing formed substantially square in cross section as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. 'lliis casing is provided with a mimber -of glass panes orwindows 2 at the ulhier part, a pair of lenses 3 at the center view similar to a single lens in section and windows 4 at the lower section. l

vshowing a round construction of casing and is used. instead of an in- Ihe .various parts ofthe casing l are divided into chambers 5, 6 andA 7 by division plates 8 and 9 of metal or other suitable material.l The chamber 5 is supplied with a single light or lamp 10 though it might be provided with more lamps if desired. It is intended that the lamp l() shall remain steadily. illuminated darkness, and by throwing its lightthiough the windows 2 this lamp will supply a fixed zone or band of light near the top of the device.` In like manner the lower chamber 7 is supplied with one or more lights suoli as lamp 11 which are intended to be kept permanently illuminated. Lamp l1, shining -the windows 4, supplies a zone or -band of light near the bottoni of the casing 1 which 1s spaced away from the upper band. Arranged about the lamp 1l are lenses 12 which are positioned in suitable openings 13 in the base 14. 'Theselenses 12 are so designed as to retract light from the lamp 1l downward and illuminate the standard l5 so that a motorist approaching see the two fixed bands of light which have during the hours of '1 this lamp will i fill) 1 the space occupied heenf'reerred to and will also lne able-to judge how fer from the ground these two bends of light are locete.

Arran ed in the' elieinber 6 ere four lam s 16 said amps being wronged posile t e various lenses 3 es shown in -ignre' in order that as seid lamps Aire turned on'and oil they-will produce flashes or' light through the lenses 3. It Mey, be notedha't. in the and tend to throw si general (lineerl' light' through suoli lens.

' 1 lin order that the 'light which pisses 'through the lenses may oe mene intermi lient, the device is previdecl with some form o eelier, eeen, for exemple, es she thermo" steile aslier 17 vwhich is shown as intel1- posed in the circuit o lie lamps lo. 'llie oneration of n thermostzitie :flasher is suoli tnet when current is turned on like will be intermittently turned on and. oli to produce the desired 'flashing action.

The casing l between inne division members 8 and 9 is meile of sheet mele'jexeepi by the lenses whereby the only light from these lamps will 'oe through the lenses. 7llben the current is turned on Alille lompe 16 will oe inermitl'lently lighted und ihereby produce intermittent flashes or liglit`throngh the lenses which will produce e very distinct and attractive signal. In ed,- ition, the lam l0 will illuminate the upper port of. the easing emi will canse the danger sign et the top to loe clearly illnminete. Ae shown in Figure il, this igngie'diseloeed as the Word .Denger'tliough some other wordeonlil oe used sind. illnmmetefl by the lamp '10. The various glass penes in the lower seeion T are provided with different inormution thereon, that sliownin Figure l1 being the words fBroaole/ey, 59th AStreet indieating', the .loeetionof the lamp.A Other signel Wording or police regulation may be pro- ,vicledit the upper end lower eert of the lampA if desired nnklillnrninated by the respective laines l0 'and 1l inecldition' tctlijenct that; the lamp' l1 will 'illuilinete the 'sendircl or 'face l15.9111 the exemple' shown thelenses are arren ed in @horizontal plane and' the zones or ends of liglif; are shown noone above enclone below the-lenses. vlt is obvions that other errnngements, could oe mafie deeirecl.

lVliere e square Casin K o is provided only two lenses 'will be eeen Wlien coming toward range Leeenoe the light whereas if the arrangement shown in Figures '5 :incl 6 is used, two lenes'yvill lie seen directly and e partial View oiille edi acont lenses Willbe also seen. ln Figures 9 and l0, single lenses are arranged in the different faces of tlre casing :incl by reason of the hexagonal shape Will present one nl lens to View when approaching the lamp :mil a partial' View of the :idjaeen: side lense whereby o decided attractive and clistinc'n .signal will be Presenteda i ln Figure 8 is shown e, oiagreni which ,will inioafe the eireuis of the various lampe and associated parts. le indicated in this diagram, current may be lnrned on source, es for instenee, alie usuel-lump eirenit now in use in cities of today. lllien current is turned on it will in through the lead-inwire 19 eo?- tlie Wire 20 which connects the inse plugs 2l and 252. From inse plug 2l, current :will pass through Wire 2310 the leslier l? Wliiilolirlasher may be or' any desired or suite-lele .srnoture- From elle laslier l?, current passes through wire to `he Wire which wire .is connected lo one side oil-ine vai-ions lamps 16. The opposite sides of 'lhese lamps are connected to e Wire 26 which wire rexlzemle io the fuse plug 27 and through eflil ping :27 to tlie conneeiirg wire 28 'enel 'from seni ooniieeting wire ,through llie leacl-ont-wire 29 beek no lie source. current 'is-passing through this circuit, ourrene will also pass from *olie egnneoiing Wire 20 through the fuse 'ping 252, Wires 3l enel 32 -to the respective lamps l() und ll. From lamp l0 e Wire B3 exencls io the inse plug 34 while from lmnp l1 a Wire 35 extends to Wire 33 whereby the current from both of ltliese lamps will eturn through the 'fuse plug 34 and ronr thence through the return of lead-onlwire 29 lo the source. This en Ainento wiring is very simple :ind per mits oli of lie lamps to be nrnecl on nml oil1 from n distant point, Ias for instance, from 'the power house supplying tlie elec'- tijieiy. lt will 'ne notrfl inet `the lamps are orrangeel in parallel" or iniiltiole ancl, con- ASequenlly, if one lamp lieeomesloroken oi'V fails for any reason, it other lamps.

ln Figures 4l, 5, G und T, 'inodiiefl constructions oi'cesiiig and arriengeinens of lamps, are shown for taking care of signalu Aling undernverions eireunistanres. 'lo 'ease will not alleen ilio 'five streets should converge at :i given 'poing the easing l will he' arranged shown in Figure l with fre pairs 3, eecli pair facing own e sreet. 'llie lamps l?) in this form oi. the invention are .errengeil' so inzit two leinps will lie .opp 'e eeeli pair or' lenses: in lie form slior Fiignre' so es to the i'sirwl qgngeliee. l'n eis: for eight 'n or lenses :irel

et e (listelli point sind from any suitable i Ai the same time that llO essere@ desired, the arrangement is as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and' under some circumstances, three lenses are 4desired and when this is the case a roundoasing 1 is provided. with the lenses 3 positioned at the desiredr .point and opposite the' centrally arranged lamp 16. lt will, therefore, be seen that the invention may be applied to dierent' shaped casi'ngs by a slight rearrangement of the lampsaind other parts,

rl`his application contains certainv matterl described but not nowclalmed in my 'earlier' application, Serial No. 431,/i08` iiled December 17, 1920 and is in part a continuation of said earlier application which now covers the particular arrangement of lamps and lenses in the middle compartment ofthe device.

lli/*het I claim is l. In a lamp of the 'class described., a compartment, a' light source Within the compartment, a Window at the periphery 'of the compartment adapted to show a de# 'lined area of light from said source, a standard supporting said above the ground. and means directing aportiono the light from said source upon the standard and ,ground whereby the posi- 4- jvvindows at the periphery of said top and bottom compartments to show snniiarly shspednreas of light' from-the respective light sources, seid Tareas of plight,

being spaced by the intermediateicoinpartej ment. 'I

of spaced eompartmentm a light source in' each thereof, windows 'at the peripheryof said compartments Vadapted 'to show separate defined band'sfof 'iight from the respective light'scnrces; a third compartment intermediatesaid tivo compartments and containing a source of light, a lens at the periphery` of said third `compertinent arranged' to' show a spot of light interJ mediate said areas of light? compartment 4. ln a lamp ofthe class described,'ajpu'in land ground.

5. In a lampiof the class described, a pair.

of spaced compartments, alight source n each thereof, 1"f'indovvs at the periphery of said compartments adapted to showscparate and similarly shaped` areas oflight from the 1 respective light sources, a third compartment intermedia-te said two compartments and containing a source of light and lenses at the periphery of said third compartment ar` w ranged to show spaced defined spots of' light intermediate said areas of light.

6. in a lampo the class described, a pair of spaced compartments, a light vsource in each thereof, windows at the periphery of and similarly shaped areas of light from the respective light sources, a' thid vcompertinent intermediate said two compartments and containing a lamp` means for 'said compartments adapted to show separate flashing said lamp, and lenses at the periphery of said third compartment arranged intermittently to show spaced defined spotsy of light intermediate said areas of light as said lamp flashes.

7. In alamp of the class described, three i' superposed compartments, light sources in the top and bottom compartments, win-V dows at the periphery of said top and bottom compartments adapted to show defined similarly shaped areas of light from thel respective light sources, said areas of light being spaced by the intermediate compartment, a standard supporting said compartments above fthe ground. andmeans direct-v ing a port/ion'of the' light from one of said light scure supon thestanderd and ground. 8, In 'a amp' of theel/ass described, va

pair of spaced compartments, a light source l 1n each thereof, windows at the periphery separate similarly shaped. areas of light the; .respective light sonrces,"a third 'compartment intermediate said two compartments and -containing a lamp, means for flashing said lamp, lenses at the peripheryof said third compartment arrzlmgedv to intermittently show spaced defined spots of Alight intermediate said' areas of light ,as said lamp flashes, a standard supporting said compartments above the ground, and

means directing a portion of the light froml-105 onev of said light sources upon the standard" FOSTER M'ILLIKEN.

of 'saidl compartments adapted toA show 

